Jeff City Police Officer Shot After Chase Ends in Wooded Area

KMIZ-TV is reporting that a Jeff City police officer was shot in the chest Wednesday night after an attempted traffic stop turned into a police chase that ended with one cop shot and a suspect dead.

Officers were conducting a weapons offense investigation around 10:20 p.m., when they noticed a vehicle that was wanted in connection with an incident in which multiple shots were fired.

Officers attempted a traffic stop on the silver Ford near West McCarty and Hughes Streets, but the driver refused to pull over, and a chase ensued.

The chase led officers through several Jeff City streets, and onto westbound Highway 54, then on Madison, Stadium, Monroe and Hickory streets, ending up at Atchison and Jackson, where two suspects exited the vehicle and ran into a wooded area.

Two Jeff City officers followed them into the woods. A struggle with one suspect began, and the suspect pulled out a handgun and shot at the officers, striking one in the chest. He was wearing a ballistic vest and was transported to an area hospital, where he was reported in stable condition.

The second officer returned fire at the suspects, killing one of them.

The remaining suspect hid in the woods until more officers arrived, including a K-9 team and a helicopter from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The search from above located the suspect, and he was taken into custody.